Rents are out of control, that’s true. Rent control will make things worse in Tacoma | Opinion

Rent control won’t fix affordability

Affordability is a crisis, but the rent cap bill in Olympia is the wrong answer. Washington is already behind by 150,000 homes, yet this legislation would force developers to cancel thousands of planned rental units before they’re even built. Housing providers will be stuck with rising costs while being forced to cap rent increases, making it impossible to maintain buildings or keep up with repairs. In reality, policies like these have backfired in cities nationwide, discouraging construction, worsening housing conditions and leading to even higher costs in the long run. If lawmakers truly want to help renters, they should expand supply, streamline permitting and incentivize homebuilding — not pass policies that shrink the housing market.

Sheri Druckman, Puyallup

A tribute to Miss Roxanne

I recently learned that Roxanne is retiring from Metropolitan Market, effective April 1. For those who don’t know, Miss Roxanne has been a shining light at that location since the mid-1990s. For nearly 30 years, she has greeted community members with care, enthusiasm and grace. She went out of her way to say hello and brighten others’ day. Sadly, we must now go about our shopping without her trademark, “Hey, baby!” and infectious smile.

I think I speak for the majority of Tacomans in wishing Roxanne a joyous and relaxing retirement. She is truly a local legend whose legacy will be one of profound kindness.

Mike Malaier, Tacoma

Dammeier gave good DEI model

President Donald Trump is on a rampage to eliminate Diversity, Equity,and Inclusion programs. He wants employers to base hiring decisions exclusively on merit, not “race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin.”

Former County Executive Bruce Dammeier did exactly that when he took office in 2017. No DEI department; no preferential treatment.

He did, however, improve hiring practices. He imposed a competitive process on all hiring, including seasonal and part-time jobs. He discarded needlessly restrictive employment standards. Outsiders with a vested interest in hiring decisions were excluded from the process. He also recruited prospective employees with diverse attributes who might be unaware of job opportunities, that, or deterred by a perceived lack of fair consideration. Just as important, Dammeier offered County employees opportunities to learn about the cultures of the people they work with and the taxpayers they work for. Call it what you want, Dammeier embraced the true meaning of DEI: hiring the best-qualified employees; reaching out to those with diverse backgrounds; and treating everyone with fairness, civility, and respect. It’s a prudent management practice the County should maintain and President Trump should emulate.

Dan Grimm, Puyallup

Meetings must be accessible

Hello, I tried to make my voice heard at the meeting Saturday. the meeting was at Stadium High school; and in order to attend I would have had to park a half a mile away and then walk back in the pouring rain. Being disabled it was untenable. Not to mention the extremely heavy traffic. Why is this even an issue?

A hearing about who I can rent my house to? Why? Why can I decide myself? So someone else is going to decide (someone who is more qualified than me) though I have owned the house for nearly 50 years now and I have made a good living renting houses out for years. And when I had a series of strokes some years ago and I struggled with disability; where were they? They weren’t around helping me. I did the remodeling of the house to get it ready and rented. Though it was incredibly difficult.

And when I first had about 20 strokes and was starving; where was the help I needed to get it done so I could keep my house? Nowhere to be found!

And I was able to get it done, with no help from the hotels.

Sterling B. Wirth, Tacoma